Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 05/13/05

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards 565-3098 District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua 565-3098

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

Attorney General Lockyer to be Keynote Speaker
at Elder Abuse Summit

Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua and Sonoma County Director of Human Services Dianne M. Edwards, jointly announced today that Attorney General Bill Lockyer will be the keynote speaker of the upcoming Elder Abuse Prevention Awareness conference in Santa Rosa on May 25. The conference will take place in Santa Rosa at the Flamingo Hotel to raise the public awareness in the investigation, prosecution, and prevention of elder abuse.

"Our seniors are vulnerable to crime and it is critical that in their twilight years we protect them-- prevention must be a top priority to stop elder abuse in Sonoma County," said District Attorney Passalacqua. Dianne M. Edwards joined District Attorney Passalacqua, and senior activists earlier this month in requesting the Board of Supervisors pass a resolution declaring May Elder Abuse Prevention month. Edwards stated, "It is estimated that only one in 14 cases of elder abuse are actually reported to Adult Protective Services, so the prevalence of abuse is really much broader than we know."

According to recently reported statistics, Sonoma County’s over-sixty population is estimated to skyrocket by 157% in five years and the number of seniors in Sonoma County over eighty-five, is expected to increase 200% by 2040. Seniors, their family and friends, and community members are invited to attend a luncheon and afternoon community program. Attorney General Lockyer will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon. The morning program will consist of a professional training session for prosecutors, law enforcement, and adult protective services personnel.

The Institute for the Advancement of Criminal Justice, the California District Attorney’s Association provided the funds to put on this elder abuse prevention event. The conference will be a collaborative effort by the District Attorney’s Office, California District Attorney’s Association, Institute for the Advancement of Criminal Justice, Sonoma County Human Services Department, Council on Aging, Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging, Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chief’s Association, and the Elder Financial Protection Network.

Seniors and community members are invited to attend the luncheon and afternoon session at a cost of $10. For information or questions regarding this community outreach program, please contact the Area Agency on Aging at 565-5950 or the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office at 565-3098. Professionals are invited to attend the morning training session, luncheon, and afternoon session at a cost of $30. A large turnout is anticipated so attendees are urged to make reservations as early as possible. The registration form may be found online at www.cdaa.org or call the above-mentioned numbers.